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As mentioned in the my post on how to start prepping, https://nickspreparedness.com/2020/07/14/how-to-start-prepping/ water is one of the most vital parts to survival. There is no shortage to the list of people who have survived for days, weeks, and sometimes months with little or no food. Of course, the amount of time you last is partial based on your stored fat and muscle that your body can consume as well as you general health going into the situation, but its safe to say that, on average, we will die of dehydration or related issues long before starvation if we have no water source.

How Much Water Should We Drink Daily ?

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults should be drinking between 3/4 to 1 full gallon of water daily. That sounds like a lot, but it is very doable, especially when it’s hot and you constantly need to replenish your fluids. With that in mind, you can figure you’ll need roughly a gallon of water per person per day just for drinking in a survival situation. It sounds simple until the water faucet runs dry. As the blog continues, we will take up the task of water storage in another post, however, be aware that you need to plan for an ample supply.

What Type of Water Should I Drink?

That sounds like a dumb question on the surface doesn’t it? I mean, we all know that soft drinks and alcohol are water based but aren’t going to be as effective against dehydration and could actually worsen it, but what type water? It makes a difference.

I changed careers about 2 years ago and found myself in a completely different line of work, water treatment. One of the first things we did as new hires was to have an informal “water 101” class with our manager. I never realized prior to this just how much chemistry is involved in our need for hydration. Our bodies are made up of mostly water, but here’s the catch, its salt water! Now its not the type of salt water you dip from the sea, but it is a combination of lots of “salts” that allow our bodies to function. Pure water with no minerals dissolved in it will actually lead to dehydration because it reverses the transfer of the necessary minerals that our body uses to function. Pure water will not conduct electricity and our bodies operate of electrical pulses to stimulate muscles and bodily functions, therefore, the type water you drink is actually very important. Now that we as a nation have become addicted to bottled water, its important to look closely at the label. If you see that the water is distilled or purified by reverse osmosis, it likely has a very low mineral content and may need to be supplemented with an electrolyte blend.

What Electrolytes Should I Add to My Water?

The amount that we need to supplement our mineral and electrolyte intake depends on multiple factors such as diet and overall health. Adding too much salt content through sports drinks or dietary supplements can have the same effect on the body as too much table salt. Blood pressure can rise and numerous other cardiovascular problems can begin. Using tap water or mineral water along with a balanced diet is a good start. From there you can get specific with your doctor about your regular bloodwork and if you have any cramping or other issues linked to dehydration. I cramp easily these days so i have started using some supplements to boost my electrolytes when i have lost lots of fluids on a given day. These help me a lot, but they work even better if they are taken as you sweat out fluids instead of waiting until you have lost your mineral content at the end of the day or task. Check them out below:

Liquid I.V. hydration Multiplier

LES Labs Lytefuel

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